Level 3 – Lesson 6

The Muslim Belief About Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him)

Peace be upon you, dear brothers. I hope you are in good health.

Today, Allah willing, we will continue talking about belief in the Messengers, and we will learn about the Muslim belief concerning Jesus (Isa), peace be upon him.

1- Jesus is one of the greatest prophets

Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) is one of the great prophets and one of the Messengers of Firm Determination (Ulul-‘Azm).

Allah Almighty says:

﴿وَإِذۡ أَخَذۡنَا مِنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِيثَٰقَهُمۡ وَمِنكَ وَمِن نُّوحٖ وَإِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَى ٱبۡنِ مَرۡيَمَۖ وَأَخَذۡنَا مِنۡهُم مِّيثَٰقًا غَلِيظٗا﴾

“And [mention, O Muhammad], when We took from the prophets their covenant and from you and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, the son of Mary; and We took from them a solemn covenant.”

[Al-Ahzab: 7]

This means that Allah took a covenant from His prophets and specifically mentioned Muhammad, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus son of Mary, peace be upon them.

2- Jesus is a human being, a servant of Allah, and His Messenger

Jesus (peace be upon him) is a human being from the descendants of Adam. Allah performed miracles through him and sent him to the Children of Israel. He is a servant of Allah and His Messenger.

Allah Almighty says:

﴿إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا عَبۡدٌ أَنۡعَمۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ وَجَعَلۡنَٰهُ مَثَلٗا لِّبَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ﴾

“He [Jesus] was only a servant upon whom We bestowed Our favor, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.”

[Az-Zukhruf: 59]

This means that Jesus (peace be upon him) was a servant whom Allah blessed with prophethood and made a sign and an example for the Children of Israel.

Jesus (peace be upon him) never asked his people to take him or his mother as gods. Rather, he called them to worship Allah alone.

Allah Almighty says:

﴿مَا قُلۡتُ لَهُمۡ إِلَّا مَآ أَمَرۡتَنِي بِهِۦٓ أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبَّكُمۡۚ وَكُنتُ عَلَيۡهِمۡ شَهِيدٗا مَّا دُمۡتُ فِيهِمۡۖ فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّيۡتَنِي كُنتَ أَنتَ ٱلرَّقِيبَ عَلَيۡهِمۡۚ وَأَنتَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ شَهِيدٌ﴾

“I said not to them except what You commanded me—to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them; but when You took me up, You were the Observer over them, and You are, over all things, Witness.”

[Al-Ma’idah: 117]

This means that Jesus (peace be upon him) said to his people only what Allah commanded him to say: worship Allah alone, my Lord and your Lord.

3- Mary and the miraculous birth of Jesus without a father

His mother, Mary (Maryam), peace be upon her, was a truthful and devout worshipper of Allah, pure and chaste.

She became pregnant with Jesus (peace be upon him) by a miracle from Allah without a father, just as Allah created Adam (peace be upon him) without a father or mother.

Allah Almighty says:

﴿إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَۖ خَلَقَهُۥ مِن تُرَابٖ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ﴾

“Indeed, the example of Jesus in the sight of Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.”

[Aal ‘Imran: 59]

This means that the creation of Jesus without a father does not indicate divinity. Allah created Adam from dust without a father or mother. Allah only says to something, “Be,” and it is.

4- The miracles of Jesus

We believe in the miracles that Allah performed through Jesus (peace be upon him), including healing the blind and the leper, bringing the dead back to life, and informing his people of what they ate and what they stored in their homes.

All these miracles occurred by Allah’s permission. Allah made them signs proving the prophethood of Jesus and the truthfulness of his message.

5- The Muslim belief concerning Jesus

A Muslim’s faith is not complete unless he believes that Jesus (peace be upon him) is a servant and Messenger of Allah and declares him innocent of the false accusations made against him.

Islam does not accept attributing divinity or divine sonship to Jesus. Islamic belief affirms that he is Allah’s servant and Messenger, the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, and that he is neither God, nor the son of God, nor one of three.

6- Jesus was neither killed nor crucified

We believe that Jesus (peace be upon him) was neither killed nor crucified; rather, Allah raised him up.

Allah Almighty says:

﴿وَقَوۡلِهِمۡ إِنَّا قَتَلۡنَا ٱلۡمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنَ مَرۡيَمَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمۡۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ لَفِي شَكّٖ مِّنۡهُۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنۡ عِلۡمٍ إِلَّا ٱتِّبَاعَ ٱلظَّنِّۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينَۢا﴾

“And for their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah.’ And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but it was made to appear so to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except following assumption. And they certainly did not kill him.”

[An-Nisa’: 157]

Allah Almighty also says:

﴿بَل رَّفَعَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيۡهِۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمٗا﴾

“Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”

[An-Nisa’: 158]

This means that Allah Almighty saved Jesus (peace be upon him) from being killed and raised him up.

We also believe that Jesus (peace be upon him) will descend at the end of time, follow the law brought by Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), rule according to Islam, and then eventually die.

Lesson Question

After studying the lesson carefully, answer the following question:

Is Jesus (peace be upon him) God?

True or False?